US EditionDanish Registry Study Shows Most Mental Illnesses Occur Without Familial Links
DENMARK, JUL 22 – A Danish study of over 3 million people finds 89% of schizophrenia cases occur without close family history, highlighting the complexity of genetic and environmental factors.
- Researchers at the Danish Center for Register-Based Research at Aarhus University, in Lancet Psychiatry, show most mental disorders occur in individuals without affected close relatives.
- Based on data from more than 3 million Danes and multiple registries, the team tracked diagnoses across generations spanning January 1970 to December 2021.
- Schizophrenia and depression statistics show most diagnoses occur without family history, with 89% of schizophrenia cases and 60% of depression cases having no affected relatives.
- Esben Agerbo said the study points to the need for a dual-track approach, involving personalized medicine and population-wide measures like reducing societal stressors and lowering alcohol consumption.
- Researchers hope the data will help alleviate concerns and reduce stigma around mental illness, as it suggests most cases, including schizophrenia, occur without family history, informing future prevention strategies.
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Medical Xpress
Eurek AlertStudy challenges prejudice: Heredity only explains part of mental illness
It is a common belief that mental illness runs in families. While it is true that heredity plays a role, in reality, the vast majority of cases—such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, and borderline personality disorder—occur in people without any known hereditary predisposition.
Most Mental Illnesses Arise Without Family History
A massive Danish study shows that most mental illnesses—like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and depression—occur in people with no close family history of the condition. Analyzing data from over 3 million individuals, researchers found that while heredity increases risk, most diagnosed individuals do not have affected relatives.
myscience.org
cmu.eduTool Helps Scientists Spot Source of Disease
21.07.2025 - Causarray uses statistics and data science to identify the genetic changes behind neurological conditions. Carnegie Mellon researchers have developed a statistical tool that could help pinpoint the genetic changes that cause diseases like Alzheimer's and schizophrenia.
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